HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL Turocy fires 1-hitter with 16 strikeouts, Canfield cops 19th

She blanked Fitch, 7-0, for her school-record 10th shutout of the year.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANFIELD -- Canfield High senior pitcher Megan Turocy was more confident than usual prior to her team's "Senior Night" game against Austintown Fitch.
"It was a big night," said Turocy of the game played under the lights at McCune Park that honored five seniors on the Cardinal softball team.
On big nights, good players step up big and Turocy did just that to lead the Cards to a 7-0 shutout over the Falcons.
"I had more confidence than ever before," Turocy said. "This was an intense night with a lot of emotion but I just knew that things would go well.
"I think that with all that was going on prior to the game and in our minds helped me to focus even more," she added.
One-hitter
Turocy yielded just one hit and struck out a season-high 16 batters to record her school-record 10th shutout of the year for the Cards (19-6).
Turocy (15-3) originally broke the record held by Lindsey Guadiose in 2001 by shutting out Akron Hoban Friday night.
Fitch's Tiffany Mitchell broke up Turocy's no-hit bid with a pinch-hit double in the sixth inning.
Canfield got the only run it needed in the first inning when senior Elizabeth Brown doubled to drive in Nicole Garrett, who had singled with two outs.
"It was a great feeling to get that first hit and drive in a run to get us going," Brown said. "We knew that we didn't need many runs with the way Megan was throwing in that first inning."
Four-run uprising
Canfield tacked on another run in the second inning on two Fitch errors, and then put the game away with a four-run rally in the fourth inning.
A Falcon error and a walk put the first two Canfield runners on base, and then four hits opened the flood gates.
Whitney Zunic drove in a run and Garret's ground out scored another. Brown then doubled in another run and Carolyn Ross drove in the final tally of the inning.
Canfield scored again in the sixth on an RBI single by Jenn DiGiantonio.
Canfield finished with 11 hits against Fitch's sophomore pitcher, Jen Purnell.
"We made too many errors," said Fitch coach Tina Kinnick. "You can't give up runs when you are facing a pitcher as tough as Turocy."
Everyone contributed
Coach Fred Mayhew said that everyone has contributed to Canfield's successful season this year but the seniors have been extra special.
The Cardinals honored Turocy, Brown, Amanda Williams, Lindsay Yosay and Stephanie Mistovich in a ceremony preceding the game.
"Not only are all five of those players great athletes, they are quality kids," Mayhew said. "They are team leaders and great examples for our younger players."
Canfield has a chance to throw the Metro Athletic Conference championship into a three-way tie if they can beat Poland on Wednesday night.